Machine for making link rods



E. D. IMHLn/mn:- 2,217,333 MACHINE FOR MAKING. LINK RODS F'illd lo 4 ShoetsSheet l Okt. 8. 1940.

Oct. 8. 1940' E. D. DAHLMAN MACHINE FOR MAKING LINK RODS rind lov. 15, 19:57

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 W m w f.

x 5% Zier/7 E. D. D AHLMAN MACHINE FOR MAKING LINK RODS Filou n'. ,15. 193'? 4|-l Sheets-SheML 3 Oct. 8. 1940- E. D. DAHLMAN MACHINE FOR MAKING. LINK RODS Flld lov. 15. 1957 4 Shoots-Shdet 4 Patented Cct. 8, 1940 UNETED STATES cargar OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR. MAKING LINK RODS Eben D. Dahlman, Grandy, Minn.

Application November 15, 1937, Serial No. 174,588

20 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for making certain link rods, one use of which rods is for forming a sorting chain or device in a potato picking or grading machine. Such rods have a rectilinear central or intermediate portion and have their ends bent inwardly and then bent at right angles to form open loops.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple, eicient and automatic machine which will produce said rods very rapidly.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine which will produce said rods from the original stock and which will deliver said rods to an intermittently movable conveyor on which they are automatically arranged in interengaged relation.

It is still another object of the invention to yprovide a machine comprising a plurality of dies for bending the ends vof the rods together with means for taking the rods from a point of delivery such as a furnace, delivering the same to said dies and delivering them to a guide-way by which they are guided to the receiving means, such as the conveyor above mentioned.

It is still further an object of the invention to provide a machine comprising bending dies, means for delivering the rods to said dies, means for removing the rods from said dies, and intermittently movable conveyor to which the rods are delivered together with means for operating all of said parts in synchronism.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in whichlike reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the machine also showing a furnace, a part of which is shown in vertical section and in which view some of the parts are broken away;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the machine also showing a portion of a furnace;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the machine as seen from the side opposite that seen in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 1l- 4 of Fig. 2 as indicated by thearrows;

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view of the bending dies in open position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar toy Fig. 5 showing the dies with the rod partially bent;

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 5 showing the dies in the iinal position of bending;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the nished rod; and

Fig. 9 is a partial plan view of the delivery end of the machine. I y

Referring to the drawings a machine is shown comprising a frame designated generally as I0, which frame has spaced vertical side or leg portions Ia connected by top horizontal portions Ib and intermediate horizontal portions Illc. A top' plate Ie extends between the side por- Il() tions and end rails lf extend from the feeding end of the machine toward a furnace Il, part of which is shown and which has supporting legs IIa. The furnace II will comprise means for' heating the straight rods I2 and these will 15 be progressively discharged in a row resting onv the bottom of a passage IIb forming an exit from said furnace. A pair of brackets I3 are provided having flanges I3@ secured to the discharge side of the furnace by cap screws Irda. These brackets are also secured to the rails If .and as shown in Fig. 1, extend downwardl from passage I Ib to said rails.

A pair of stop pawls I4 are pivoted on pivots I5 at the inner side of brackets I3 and are held in position shown in Fig. 1 by small compression springs IB disposed at the underside thereof and bearing at their other ends on lugs |31) depending from brackets I3.` Springs I6 are shown as having their ends secured by riveting to arms I4 and lugs |321. Brackets I3 also have upstanding lugs I3@ at their upper ends to which are pivoted by the pivot screws Il pawls I 8 held in the position shown in Fig. 1 bytensile coiled springs I9 secured to the lower end of pawls IS and at their other ends to small angle brackets 20 secured to the tops of arms I3. Bearings 2I are secured by suitable bolts 22 to the outer ends of the side rails If'and form bearings for a rod 23 extending therebetween. Rod 23 has secured thereto adjacent each bearing ZI an arm 24, Arms 24 are of a length to extend substantially to the furnace I I and terminate in slightly curved pointed ends 2ML.v A gripping member 25 is pivoted to the outer side of each arm 2li by the screw 26. Gripping member 25 has a gripping J'aW 01 plate 25a arranged in opposite relation to the concave side of end 2da.. Member 25 has a pocket at its inner end of general semi-cylindrical shape in which is disposed the ball end on the short arm of a lever 21 pivoted to the inner side of arm 24 by a pivot screw 28. The long Varm of lever 21 extends toward the pivoted end of arm 24 and has secured to its end one endfof a coiled torsion spring 29, the other end of which is secured to the top of lever 24 by screws 30. The arms 24 swing downwardly against arms I4 which are depressed and thus will allow the outermost rod I2 to roll between jaw 25a and point 24a. Member 25 is rocked somewhat by engagement with arm I4 so that the rod I2 can move completely within jaw 25a. When arm or arms 24 are again raised the rod I2 is gripped between jaw 25ct and point 24a and arms I4 y that link 32 will swing arm- 3| which will inturn oscillate shaft 2,3 and swing arms 24. Members 31 secured by one of the bolts 9 which hold rails I f upstand from said rails in position to be engaged by the long arms of levers 21 when the .latter are swung to stationary position..

Disposed on plate Ille are spaced stationary dies 38, the same being shown as havingA substan- .tially semi-cylindrical outer sides. Guiding-members 39 shown as formed from flatV bars bent into vsubstantiallyinverted V-shape are disposed adjacent dies 38 so that a. rod .I2 may be disposed between one side of guide vmembers 39 and the dies 3,8. Movable or swingable dies mare disposed adjacent dies 38 and mounted toswing about vertical pivot bolts 4I which secure them to plate Ille, said bolts having washers 42 beneath the heads thereof. Eachdie 40 has a bend- Ving face or surface 49a and a supplementary die 40h thereon projecting from face 40a and having an outer substantially semi-cylindrical side. Dies 40 are pivotally lconnected at their inner endsyrespectively to links 4,3, which links are pivotally connected at their other ends by pivots 44 to a cross-headA 45'.rv Cross-head 45 is movable in guides formed below plate Ille and has depending therefrom a lug 45a to which is pivotally connected one end of ,a link 46, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the upper end of a lever arm 41. Lever arm 41 is pivotally connected at its lower end by pivot stud 48 to a bracket 49 secured by screws 50 to one of the `cross framemembers Inc. Lever 41 has revolubly mounted thereon a roller I engaged in the groove 52a of a .cam 52 rigid' with and revoluble with shaft 34. Cam 52 will thus swing arm-41 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 and will thus advance cross-head 45 and through links 43 will swing the die members 40. With the rod I2 in the position shown in Fig. 2 the dies 40 bend the same Y- about die 38 to the dotted line position shown in said iigure. With the rod bent the projections 40h move into position over the bent portion of the Avrod. g

. Dies 55 are provided having arm portions and hubs secured to .the opposite .ends of ashaft 56 journalled in bearings 51 secured to plate Ille by the kbolts 58. Shaft 56 has .secured thereto an arm 59 to theend of which is pivotally connected a link 69. Link 60 is pivotally connected at its other end to'one end Vof a cam lever 6|, which lever is pivoted at its other end by pivot 62a to one of the frame members Ilia. Lever 6I hasV revolubly mounted thereon a roller 62 engaged by a cam member 63 secured to shaft 34. An arm extends substantially parallel to lever arm 6I having its ends bent at right angles, one of which ends is .pivoted to lever 6I by the bolts 65. The other end of said arm 64 has a roller 66 revolubly mounted thereon which also engages cam 63. An arm 61 has an elongated slot 61a therein through which extend spaced screws 68 holding said arm in place. Arm 68 has a roller 69 revolubly mounted at itsrouter end and adapted to engage one side of the link 60. A tensile coiled spring 19 vhas one end secured to link 69 and its other end secured to frame member Illa. and acts to hold roller 62 against cam 63. It will be seen that when cam 63 revolves lever arm 6I will be moved upwardly as will link 60 and arm 59 will oscillate shaft 56 so that dies 55 will be moved upwardly. As dies 55 move upwardly the ends of the rod I2 are engaged as shown in Figs. 6 and '7 and the end of the rod is bent around the die or projection 4.917 thus forming an open loop on the rod with a semi-circular end. The terminal portion of the rod projects tangentially at the upper side y of this loop.

A shaft 12 is journalled in bearings 13 secured to the plate Ille by screws 14. A pair of arms 15 have hubs secured to shaft 12 as by the pins 16.

Arms 15 swing to a position shown in Figs. 2y

'and 4 where their ends underlie rod` I2 in its position in the dies. Arms 15 have upturned ends 15a. ,Curved bars 11 are disposed at each side of vthe machine having ends extending substantially f verticallyadjacentl the dies v38 and' at the inner sides thereof. Bars 18 are also provided above bars 11 and spaced some distance therefrom, the forward end of bars v18 having bent parts terminating some distance above the plate Ille. Bars 11 and 18 are carried on side brackets 18a and 89 secured by suitable screws to plate Ille. The curve on bars 11 and 13 is substantially concentric with shaft 12. Shaft 12 projects at one side of the machine and has secured thereto an arm 8| the outer end of which is pivotally connected to a link 82 by a pivot bolt83. Shaft 12 has a pin 84 projecting upwardly and laterally therefrom as shown in Fig. 1, the same having an eyelet at its upper end towhich is secured one end of a tensile coiled spring 85, the other end of which is attached to an eyelet 86 secured in one of the frame members lila. A coiled spring 81 has one end secured to the lower end of lever 82, which lever extends downwardly, and to the left as shown in Fig. 1', the other end of spring 81 being secured to one of the cross frame membersv IIlc. Lever 82 has a shoulder 82a. formed thereon extending at right angles to the lower side of said lever, said lever is disposed close to a cam plate 88 having revolubly mounted thereon a camroller 89. Cam roller 89 is arranged to engage shoulder 32a and to move lever 82 in the revolution of cam plate 88. A stop lug 90 is secured to the side of cam plate 88 by a screw 9|. A rib 88a of curved form upstands from the surface of cam plate 88. Cam plate 88 also has upstanding from the surface thereofv a lug 88h shown as of rectangular form through which is threaded a 'headed screw 92. Screw 92 engages and moves a block 93 having a portion movable in and guided in a slot 89e' formed in plate 89. At the other side of said plate from lug 88h block 93 carries a roller 94. Plate 68 is secured to a gear 95 secured to shaft 34 by which said shaft and the parts attached thereto are driven. Gear 95 is in mesh with and rotated by a pinion 96 secured to a shaft 91 journalled in bearingsl 98. Shaft 91 has secured thereto at one side of the machine, a pulley 99 which will be driven by some suitable motor. A clutch preferably will be used with pulley 99 of the stop type adapted to make a certain revolution after being tripped. Such clutches are well known and the same is not illustrated although the tripping mechanism for said clutch is illustrated comprising a pedal lever |9I pivoted on pivot |92 to one of the frame members |80., the same being shown as having a pedal portion IDIa at its outer end. Lever ||l| is' pivotally connected at its inner end to a link |93 movable in a guide member |94 secured to one of the cross-bars Iilc by the bolts |95. A lever |06 is pivoted at |81 to the frame member Illa and extends along the frame to engage at its other end a stop member |98. Lever .|96 is also connected by a link |99 to an arm IID pivoted on stud III.

The rod after being bent in the dies described is swung by operation of arm 'l5 through the guide-way formed by bars ll and 18. A bracket |I5 is secured to member 'I8 adjacent its rear end and projects upwardly therefrom to have pivoted thereto by the pivot member an escapement lever II'I. The lever I|'I has spaced prongs I I 1a, the ends of which are disposed close to bar TI. A link I6 connects the upper end of lever Ill to one of the dies 49. spaced guide plates I|2 extend parallel to bars I1 and 19, and some distance outwardly therefrom, the same being spaced slightly more than the bent rod I2. A bar |29 extends transversely adjacent one end of frame I 9, the same having angular portions secured to the frame members Illa by screws |2I. Another bar or plate |22 extends transversely of the machinesome distance in the rear of bar |28 and has arm brackets |22a secured to frame member Illa by screws |23. Bars |24 project inwardly from brackets I22a and extend upwardly to overlap bar |29.

A conveyor is provided comprising spaced sprockets |26 secured to a shaft |21 journalled in bearings projecting from frame |28. Another pair of sprockets I 29 are secured to a shaft |38 also journalled in bearings carried on frame |28, sprockets |297 being alined respectively with sprockets |26. Chains |3| run over the pairs of aligned sprockets |26 and |29 respectively.' A ratchet wheel |32 is secured to shaft |38 and is engaged by an actuating pawl |33. Pawl |33 is mounted on a pivot |34 connecting a lever arm |35 with a link |36. Lever arm |35 is pivoted on shaft |39 and extends equal distances above and below said shaft, the same having a link |31 pivotally connected to its lower end by pivot member |38. Links |36 and |31 are pivoted respectively to the ends of lever arms |390. extending equal distances at each side of a pivot member |40 secured in frame |28. .Arms |3911 are part of a lever |39 which lever has a main arm extending along one side of the cam plate 88 and arranged to be engaged by roller 94. A tensile coiled spring |I9 has one end secured to lever |33 and has its other end secured to one of the frame members Ita. Another pawl I4| engages ratchet wheeel |32 at the front side thereof and is pivoted to a lever |42, which lever is fulcrumed on a pivot |43 mounted in a lug depending from the top of frame |28. Lever |42 has secured thereto a link rod |44 which will extend to the forward end of the machine in position to be manipulated by the operator for manually operating ratchet |32 if this is desired.

1n operation, the rods |2 will be cut to the right length and heated in furnace I I. The rods will be discharged through passage IIb so that they pass from the end of said passage downwardly onto bracket I3 until the foremost rod engages the stop member or pawl I4. At this time spring |9 holds the pawl I8 just above the top of pawl I4 at the end thereof. Pulley 99 will be rotated and when the operator steps on clutch pedal IIlIa. the clutch will be engaged yand gear will be rotated by pinion 98. 'I'his will rotate shaft 34 and crank 33 Will, through link 32, oscillate arm 3| and arms 24 will be swung downwardly over members I4. Members I4 will be depressed by engagement therewith of member 25 and one of the rods I2 will pass over the end of members I4 on top of law member 25a. Member 25 will be rocked somewhat by engagement with members I4 so that jaw member 25a will move away from end portion 24al to enable said rod to move against member 25. Arms 24 will then be swung upwardly permitting members I4 to rise to the position shown in Fig. 1 and spring 29 will close jaw 25a against rod I 2 gripping it against end portion 24a. The pointed ends of pawls I4 pass between the discharged rod and the next adjacent one as said pawls move upward. Members I8 act to control the rods and prevent their moving upwardly. When arms 24 are swung upwardly the rods move members I8 against the tension of springs I9 so that the rods snap past said members. Arms 24 are swung in an arc of somewhat less than degrees and come into position where the arms of levers 21 engage members 31. This swings members 25 and moves jaws 25a. away from portions 24a so that the rods are released. The rods then drop between the front end of the curved bars 'II and guiding members 39 and come into position in the rear of the stationary dies 38 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. With the rod in this position cam 52 acts on lever arm 4l to move cross head 45 rearwardly and this through the links 43 swings the movable dies 48 to bend the ends of the rod around the stationary dies 38 as illustrated in Fig. 6. The dies or projections 40h on dies 4|) come into position over the bent portion of the rod as seen in Fig. 6. The movable dies 48 are held in the position shown in Fig. 6 while cam 52 continues its rotation with the surface thereof concentric with shaft 34 engaging roller 5|. Cam 63 now raises lever arm 6I by engagement with rollers 60 and 62 thus raising link 68 and swinging arm 59 upwardly. As lever arm 6I is raised cam roller 69 engages link 6I) to swing it rearwardly somewhat and insure that a dead center position is not attained with arm 59. When arm 59 is swung upwardly the dies 55 are swung upwardly and the terminal portions of the rod I2 are bent over the dies 48D, as shown in Fig. 7. A loop is thus formed at the end of each rod and the terminal portion of the rod extends tangentially to one side of this loop. With the continued rotation of shaft 34 the cross head 45 is retracted by cam 52 and lever 6I is again lowered by spring 18 as cam 63 revolves so that its short radius is in engagement with rollers 62 and 66. With the dies are thus again moved away from the rod, roller 89 in the rotation of cam disk 88 with shaft 34 engages shoulder 82a of lever 82 and moves said lever to the left as shown in Fig. 1. This rotates arm 8| in a clockwise direction and arms l5 are oscillated quickly in a clockwise direction. It may be stated that rib 88a. is provided to support arm 82 in the rotation of disk 88 after said arm is dis- I engaged by roller 89. In. the rotation of disk 88 roller 89 moves arm 82 against the tension of springs '35 and 8l. Roller 89 finally comes into position where it moves 01T of shoulder 82a and lever arm 82 snaps down against stop 90. Arms are thus very quickly snapped back into receiving position as shown in Fig. 4. Plates |l2 prevent the rod from moving endwise while it is being swung between plates Il and 78 by the arms 75. When arms l5 are swung in a clockwise direction the rod l2 is lifted and moves along bar Ti and between the same and bar 'was illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The r'od thus comes into position against the rearmost prong Illa of the escapement lever 1. The rod remains here until the dies it are again operated, at which time lever is oscillated by link H8 and the rod is released by the rearmost prong lila and fthe foremost prong I Ila prevents another rod Vfrom being released. The rod released drops down onto bar as illustrated in Fig. 1 and then tips by gravity turning through substantially 90 degrees and then drops vertically. Plate |22 prevents the rods from moving too far rearwardly and the rods are guided in their vertical movement by the bars |26. There is enough of a recess or groove as it were, in the ends of the wrod to make it guide nicely along the bars HM.

The rod l2 drops onto the conveyor formed by chains |3| and the terminal portions |20. of the rod hook over the bight |21) of the previously discharged rod soJ that the rods interengage to form a chain and move in this condition with the conveyor. At each revolution of cam plate 88 the roller M engages lever arm |39 and lifts the same, said arm being retracted by spring H9. The position of the roller Sli can be adjusted by screw 92 to get the desired movement of lever |39. When lever |39 is thus raised it oscillates about pivot |40 and the upper arm Hwa through link |36 rocks lever |35 thus moving pawl |33 to rotate ratchet |32 a distance of one tooth. This moves thefchain |3| a suincient distance so that the rod last delivered will be in position to be engaged by the rod neXt delivered. The conveyor is thus moved in synchronism with other parts of the machine.

It is thus seen that the operation of the machine is automatic and that all parts move in synchronism. The rod is, as described, picked up and delivered by arms 24, it is then vbent by the dies, delivered by arms l5, dropped through the guideway formed by members |22 and |241 and engaged with the previous. rod on the conveyor. The operation of the machine is thus quite rapid. As stated, the conveyor may at times be advanced by operation of rod |44 by the operator when desired.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has produced a comparatively simple and very emcient automatic machine for making the link rods. The machine is quite rugged and durable and requires little attention for maintenance. There are no fine adjustments to cause trouble. The machine has been amply demonstrated in kactual practice and has been commercially used.

It will, of course, be understood that various ychanges may be made in the form, details, ar-I rangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and deiined in the appended claims.`

- What is claimedis: f

l. A machine for making link rods 'such as used in potato pickers having in combination, a stationary die, means for delivering a rod to engage one side thereof with said rod projecting beyond said die, a second die movable to bend said end portion about said stationary die through substantially 90 degrees and having a projection thereon movable over said rod in its bent position, a third die movable upwardly in an arc to bend the terminal portion of said rod over said projection to form a loop disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the length of said rod, swinging means for engaging said bent rod and moving it from said dies and means for moving said second and third dies and said last mentioned means in synchronism to bend and move said rod.

2. A machine for making link rods such as used in potato pickers having in combination, a stationary die having a substantially semicylindrical side, means for delivering a rod adjacent said die with its end portion projecting beyond said die, a second'die movable to bend said end portion about said stationary die through substantially 90 degrees to form a bight, a third die movable into position over said rod in its bent position, a fourth die movable vertically in an arc to bend the terminal portion of said rod over'said third die to form an open loop disposed in a plane substantially at right angles to the length of said rod, swinging means movable in a plane substantially at right angles to the length of said rod for engaging the same and moving it from said dies and means for movl ing said second, third and fourth dies and said first and second mentioned means in synchronism for bending and moving said rod.

3. A machine for making link rods such as used in potato pickers having in combination, bending dies for bending the ends of a rod inwardly and then into a semi-cylindrical loop in a plane at right angles to said first bend with the free end of said rod projecting at one side of said loop, means for engaging said rod and swinging the same through an arc of substantially 180 degrees at right angles to its length and releasing said rod, a member against which said rod is delivered and about which it fulcrums by gravity to turn to a position with the open side of said loop directed downwardly, guiding means for guiding said rod as it drops from said member, a conveyor for successively receiving said rods disposed below said guiding means and onto which said rods drop from said guiding means in engaging relation to form a chain and means'for operating said dies and said iii-st mentioned means and intermittently moving said conveyor in synchronism.

a. A machine for making chain rods such as used in potato pickers having in combination, bending dies for bending the ends of a rod inwardly and then bending the terminal portions substantially at right angles to said first bend to form loops with the ends of said rod projecting from said loop, means for delivering a rod to said dies, and means swingable in an arc in a plane perpendicular to the length of said rod for removing said bent rod from said dies and a curved guide bar along which said rod is moved by said last mentioned means.

5. A machine for making chain rods such as used in potato pickers having in combination, stationary dies, a pair of swinging arms having gripping means engaging said rods for swinging said rods and depositing the same adjacent said dies, movable dies for bending the ends of said rods inwardly and then upwardly respectively to form open loops at its ends, arcuate guiding means adjacent said dies, a pair of swinging arms for lifting said rod and moving the same from said dies along said guiding means and discharging said rod.

6. A machine for making chain rods such as used in potato pickers having in combination, a pair of spaced stationary dies, means for disposing a rod adjacentl the same with its ends projecting beyond said dies respectively, a second pair of dies swingable in horizontal planes to bend the ends of said rod inwardly through substantially 90 degrees, a third pair of dies movable with said second pair into alignment with said rod in bent position, a fourth pair of dies movable in substantially vertical arcs for bending the ends of said rod into an open loop and in a plane substantially at right angles to the length of said rod, means for engaging said bent rod and swinging it away from said dies and means for moving said second, third and fourth pair of dies and both of said means in synchronism for bending and moving said rod.

7. A machine for making chain rods such as used in potato pickers having in combination, bending dies, an inclined support down which said rods move, spaced stops for said rods, movable means engaging a rod in contact into said stops at spaced points and swinging the same to position in said dies, means for swinging the same away from said dies after being bent, means for receiving and conveying said rod, means for receiving said rod from said second mentioned means and directing it to said last mentioned means, and means for actuating said dies and all of said means in synchronism.

8. A machine for making chain rods such as used in potato pickers having in combination, bending dies, an inclined support down which said rods move, movable means engaging the endmost rod, spaced swinging arms, pivoted levers carried on said arms respectively adjacent the ends thereof having end portions having gripping jaws, resilient means holding said jaws in gripping position, means for swinging said arms to cause engagement of said levers and first mentioned means to move said first mentioned means to release said endmost rod and allow it to move into said jaws, and means for swinging said arms to convey said rod in said jaws to said bending dies.

9. The structure set forth in claim 8 and means adjacent said dies engaged by said levers as they approach said dies to open said jaws and deliver said rod.

10. A machine for making link rods such as used in potato pickers, having in combination, bending dies for receiving and bending the ends of a rod, a pair of arms movable to a position beneath said rod within said dies, a guiding means formed of spaced arcuate bars and means for rapidly swinging said arms about an axis concentric with said bars to move said rod along said bars.

1l. The structure set forth in claim 10, a guide plate along the sides of and substantially parallel to said bars.

12. The structure set forth in claim 10 and another pair of bars spaced above and substantially parallel to said rst mentioned bars respectively.

13. The structure set forth in claim 10, said bars having a downwardly inclined delivery end, escapement means at the ends of said bars holding the endmost rod thereon and means for swinging said escapement means to release said endmost rod and retain the next adjacent rod.

14. A machine for making link rods such as used in potato pickers, having in combination, bending dies, a guiding means formed of arcuate bars extending from adjacent said dies, means for swinging a rod bent by said dies along said bars, said b-ars having inclined delivery ends, an escapement lever having spaced prongs carried on one of said bars, one of said prongs engaging the endmost rod to hold it on said bars, and means for swinging said escapement lever to cause said prong to release the endmost bar and said other prong to hold the next bar in position.

15. A machine for making link rods such as used in potato pickers having in combination, a bending die, means for engaging a rod at spaced points and swinging the same from a place of discharge, such as a furnace, in a path perpendicular to its length to dispose it in operative position to said bending die, a second and movable bending die cooperating with said die for bending the ends of said rod inwardly to form a bight, a third bending die for bending the ends of said rod upwardly to form an open loop disposed in a plane at right angles to the plane of said bight, means swingable through substantially 180 degrees for engaging said rod and transferring it from said dies through a path in a plane perpendicular to its length and an escapement means against which said rods are delivered. y

16. The structure set forth in claim 15, a downwardly inclined support forlsaid rod while held by said escapement, means for operating said escapement to permit said rod to move from said support by gravity, a member against which said rod is delivered disposed so that said rod falls by gravity therefrom with the open ends of said loops directed downwardly, a member upon which said rods are received movable to hold the previously delivered rod in vertical alinement with the rod being dropped whereby said loops may engage over said previously delivered rod on said last mentioned member.

17. The structure set forth in claim 15, means for operating said escapement to release said rod, a bar against which said rod is dropped and on which it fulcrums to move to position with the open ends of said loops directed downwardly, a guide means for guiding said rod vertically in said position, a conveyer for receiving said rod below said guide means intermittently movable to hold the last rod received in position to be engaged by said open loops on said rod as it moves from said guide means whereby said rods become disposed in interengaged relation.

18. A machine for making chain rods such as used in potato pickers having in combination, bending means for bending the ends of a rod inwardly to form a bight and then bending said ends to form open loops disposed in planes at right angles to the planes of said bights respectively, means for removing said rod so bent from said bending means, a vertically extending guide means, means for delivering said rod to said guide means with the open ends of said loops directed downwardly, a conveyer constructed and arranged to receive said rods from said guiding means intermittently movable to hold the last rod received in alinement with said guiding means, whereby a rod `drops from said guidingmeans onto said conveyer and said loops engage with the `last rod received on said conveyer.

v19. A machine for making link rods such as fz used' in potato pickers having in combination,

bending dies for bending the ends of said rod inwardly and upwardly to form open loops at said endsymeans for feeding said rods to said dies, means'for engaging said rod at spaced points and swinging the same away from said diesv through a path perpendicular to its length, a

said'd'ies and i'lrst two mentioned means in synchronism.

' 20. A machine for making link rods having in combination, bending dies for bending the ends of. said rod to form open loops at said ends, means for'. engaging said rod at spaced points and swinging the same away from said dies, a delivery means, a member against which said rod is delivered by said last mentioned means in position substantially similar to that which it occupied in said dies and from which position lt swings by gravity through substantially 90 degrees to bring the open ends of said loops directed downwardly, a guide means for guiding said rods downwardly in said latter position, .a conveyor for receiving said rods below said guide means onto which said rods drop in interengagingA relation and means for operating said dies andrst two mentioned means in synchronism.

f EBEN D. DAI-ILMAN. 

